Clinical instructor gives study guide to clinical group is this unfair

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At my school for one of the large 6 credit classes one clinical instructor gave their clinical group a study guide. I feel this is unfair to the rest of the students since some students were given a resource other students did not receive. I feel the clinical instructor did this so their clinical group would earn high scores thus making the clinical instructor look affective.

I personally got a high A on the exam so I am not unhappy about my score, but do not like these type of tactics. I am considering mentioning this to the professor who teaches the didactic portion of the class, or my clinical instructor. But at the same time I want to keep my mouth shut and not get involved.

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At the end of the day a study guide is just that a study guide, it doesn't contain answers to the test. In my experience when other receive study guides, it doesn't mean that they go on to score better, on the contrary they become over confident and put off studying their textbooks (a big no-no)

However the decision yours.Good Luck!

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There was a topical exam blueprint given to all the students by the didactic professor, but it seems the clinical instructor filled out the blue print for the their clinical group with all the pertinent information. That was the study guide which is why I think it was unfair.

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I would let it go. You just can't spend that much energy on all the things unfair in nursing school. Tons of things have been unfair along my way through school. Heck, life is unfair. Come here, vent, and then let it go. It's just not worth it holding in all that frustration. Focus on the A you made through your hard work!!

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This clinical instructor did other things I did not agree with. But, I don't want to make any enemies :(

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@ Chiasmus100

I understand how you feel, it's tough when you see others are getting an advantage. Like I said previously,it may or may not help them. I am unsure if you have reached the point in nursing school where all the answers are correct and you must pick the most correct. Here a study guide will not help anyone as pure facts alone will not give you the answer, critical thinking skills must now take precedence.If you haven't reached this point you will.

I remember in nursing school , we would sometimes receive filled out study guides from fellow nursing students. Personally it never worked because I has to study and dissect the information for myself.Our school was so small and close knit, that we always knew who said what.I would personally let it go.

To reiterate what tsm007 said you're already on your way to doing great, A's are hard to come by so congrats!!!!!

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You said you received an A but the instructor did other things you do not agree with. Is that the real reason why this is bothering you? There is no cheating or "rule breaking " so you should probably let it go.

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Specializes in Neuro Intensive Care.

I would ask for a copy from one of the students. :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
At the end of the day a study guide is just that a study guide, it doesn't contain answers to the test. In my experience when other receive study guides, it doesn't mean that they go on to score better, on the contrary they become over confident and put off studying their textbooks (a big no-no)

However the decision yours.Good Luck!

This.

When I was in school, I had several instructors go over and provide study guides due to our clinical syllabus coinciding with the didactic syllabus; we tied it into our clinicals an reviewed information in our post conference; we had patients similar to what we were learning that week, etc, so to discuss what is learned in class and for a clinical instructor to make a study guide, or even use the school's study guide to aid students to hone their nursing judgement and decision making is NOT cheating.

:no:

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How about you make your own study with your textbook and your notes? I have used other peoples study guides in the past and I have not done so well. Wherever I make my own study guide based on the chapter objectives, I do better.

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Specializes in NICU.

I agree with other posters that the clinical instructor was actually doing a disservice to her students by giving the information without effort from her students. They needed to research the information themselves. There is a big difference between knowing the correct answer and comprehending why it is the correct answer. Nursing school requires critical thinking skills and not just memorization of the information.

Maybe my school is different, but our clinical instructors have no clue about our tests and our scores. Their job is to teach clinical.

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I agree with other posters that the clinical instructor was actually doing a disservice to her students by giving the information without effort from her students. They needed to research the information themselves. There is a big difference between knowing the correct answer and comprehending why it is the correct answer. Nursing school requires critical thinking skills and not just memorization of the information. Maybe my school is different but our clinical instructors have no clue about our tests and our scores. Their job is to teach clinical.[/quote']

My school is like that as well. The course coordinators teach lectures and most of the labs and usually do not teach clinical (maybe one group of 8 when there are 100 of us). Most of the clinical instructors are adjunct faculty and know nothing about exams or anything lecture related.

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